Osteospermum plant named &#39;kleoe10180&#39;

ABSTRACT

An  Osteospermum  variety named ‘KLEOE10180’ particularly distinguished by a stable uniformly enlarged disc floret corolla is disclosed.

GENUS AND SPECIES

Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

‘KLEOE10180’

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety ofOsteospermum plant, botanically known as Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.,and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEOE10180’. The newvariety originated from a controlled cross conducted in June 2007 inStuttgart, Germany. The female parent was a proprietary Osteospermumplant named ‘V 34’ (unpatented), and the male parent was a proprietaryOsteospermum plant named ‘Mutant 1’ (unpatented). A single plantselection was subsequently chosen for further evaluation and for asexualpropagation.

The new variety was first propagated via vegetative cuttings in April2008 in Stuttgart, Germany and has been asexually reproduced repeatedlyby vegetative cuttings over three to four generations. The presentinvention has been found to retain its distinctive characteristicsthrough successive asexual propagations via vegetative cuttings.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety were applied for in Switzerlandon Jun. 29, 2010, European Union on Jul. 9, 2010, Norway on Sep. 15,2010, and Canada on Feb. 15, 2011. ‘KLEOE10180’ has not been madepublicly available or sold more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of the new variety when grown under normal horticulturalpractices in Stuttgart, Germany.

1. Stable uniformly enlarged disc floret corolla.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Osteospermum plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotograph which shows a whole plant, including the blooms, buds, andfoliage. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained byconventional photographic procedures. The photograph was taken in Summer2010 of a 7-month old plant in the field in Stuttgart, Germany, underconditions which approximate those generally used in normalhorticultural practice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘KLEOE10180’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out inStuttgart, Germany. The plant history was taken in the Summer of 2010 on7-month old plants which were potted at 4 weeks in 12 centimetercontainers and then planted outdoors in the ground in May 2010. Theplants were pinched once at 6 weeks. Color readings were taken undernatural light. Color references are primarily to the R.H.S. Colour Chartof The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), Fifth Edition(2007).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.        -   Botanical name.—Osteospermum ecklonis Norl.        -   Common name.—African daisy.-   Plant:    -   -   Form and habit.—Herbaceous perennial; usually cultivated as            an annual.        -   Growth habit.—Vigorous.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching.        -   Height (from top of soil).—28.0 cm.        -   Width (including inflorescences).—27.0 cm.        -   Propagation.—Vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to produce a finished flowering plant.—Approximately 14            weeks.        -   Time to initiate and develop roots.—3 weeks.        -   Root description.—Freely rooting.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Arranged in a whorl.        -   Shape.—Dentiform.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Color.—Immature leaf: Upper surface: RHS 141B Lower surface:            RHS 143A Mature leaf: Upper surface: RHS N141A Lower            surface: RHS N146B.        -   Length.—6.5 cm.        -   Width.—2.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Leathery.        -   Petiole.—Absent.-   Stems:    -   -   Total number of branches at base of plant.—Approximately 5            (calculated at the base of the plant).        -   Length.—Approximately 28.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—4.0 mm.        -   Internode length.—Approximately 1.0 cm.        -   Color.—RHS 139D.        -   Texture.—Rough.-   Inflorescence buds:    -   -   Shape.—Obovate.        -   Length.—1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—9.0 mm.        -   Color (at tight bud just before the ray florets unfold).—RHS            137C.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Single.        -   Blooming habit.—Spring to Fall.        -   Quantity of inflorescences per plant.—25.        -   Lastingness of the inflorescences on the plant.—10 to 14            days.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—Approximately 5.5 cm.        -   Disc diameter.—Approximately 4.0 cm.-   Disc florets:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Approximately 130.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Tube color.—Closed: RHS 76B and RHS N77C Mature: RHS 76C.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.0 mm.        -   Diameter (at apex).—Approximately 2.0 mm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Apex color.—RHS N77C.        -   Base.—Tube shaped.        -   Margin.—Entire.-   Ray florets:    -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—Approximately 22.        -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 77C and RHS 75D Lower surface: RHS            85A.        -   Length.—Approximately 2.6 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 9.0 mm.        -   Apex.—Obtuse.        -   Base.—Acute.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 9.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 2.0 mm.        -   Texture.—Rough.        -   Color.—RHS 143A.-   Phyllaries:    -   -   Arrangement.—Single.        -   Observed quantity per plant.—20.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 137C Lower surface: RHS 137D.        -   Length.—1.0 cm.        -   Width.—1.8 mm.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Obtuse.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture.—Rough.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Androecium.—Location: Located at the base of the disc floret            corolla. Stamens: Quantity: 130 Shape: Filamentous Color:            RHS N77C and RHS N81D Filament length: 0.45 cm Filament            diameter: 0.2 mm Anther: Shape: Elliptic Color: RHS N77C            Length: Approximately 2.0 mm Diameter: Approximately 0.5 mm            Pollen: Color: RHS N21A Amount: Sparse.        -   Gynoecium.—Location: Located at the base of the ray florets;            pistils in disc flowers are degenerated and non-functional            Pistils: Number: Approximately 22 Length: Approximately 9.0            mm Diameter: Approximately 1.2 mm Stigma: Color: RHS 83B            Shape: Bipartite Length: 2.0 mm Diameter: 0.1 mm Style:            Color: RHS 92D Length: 5.0 mm Diameter: 0.2 mm Shape:            Elliptic.-   Fruit and seed set: Seed set was observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

‘KLEOE10180’ differs from the female parent, the proprietaryOsteospermum plant named ‘V 34’ in that ‘KLEOE10180’ has a stableuniformly enlarged disc floret corolla, while ‘V 34’ has a normal discfloret corolla. Lastly, ‘KLEOE10180’ has a medium vigorous growth habit,while ‘V 34’ has a compact growth habit.

‘KLEOE10180’ differs from the male parent, the proprietary Osteospermumplant named ‘Mutant 1’ in that ‘KLEOE10180’ has a stable uniformlyenlarged disc floret corolla, while ‘Mutant 1’ has a partially enlargeddisc floret corolla. Lastly, ‘KLEOE10180’ has a stripy purple flowercolor, while ‘Mutant 1’ has a pink purple flower color.

There are no available commercial varieties that are comparable to‘KLEOE10180’.

1. A new and distinct variety of Osteospermum plant named ‘KLEOE10180’as shown and described herein.